Theatrical Premiere March 6–8!

(2014) dir Ian Cheney [71 min; DCP]
This mouthwateringly entertaining film travels the globe to unravel a captivating culinary mystery. General Tso’s chicken is a staple of Chinese-American cooking, and a ubiquitous presence on restaurant menus across the country. But just who was General Tso? And how did his chicken become emblematic of an entire national cuisine? Director Ian Cheney (King Corn, The City Dark) journeys from Shanghai to New York to the American Midwest and beyond to uncover the origins of this iconic dish, turning up surprising revelations and a host of humorous characters along the way. Told with the verve of a good detective story, THE SEARCH FOR GENERAL TSO is as much about food as it is a tale of the American immigrant experience.

3½ of 4 Stars “Keeps digging and digging until it has not only solved the enigma of this particular dish but cast a light on an entire secret chronology of food, immigrant culture, and the way the two amplify each other.” – Ty Burr, The Boston Globe

“You may well emerge from “The Search for General Tso” with a hankering for the titular spicy dish.” – Sara Stewart, New York Post

“A culinary and cultural odyssey that ultimately has much more on its plate than that spicy-sweet-crispy chicken.” – Michael Rechtshaffen, Los Angeles Times

“A surprisingly satisfying and tasty dish for anyone looking for something a bit less bland than the typical history documentary.” – The Washington Post

“As much an immigration history as a culinary one, observing how a people who were demonized as low-wage laborers found entrepreneurial success in small and large towns across the country.” – John DeFore, Hollywood Reporter